Annual Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference and Senior Awards Day April 28, 29

Forty-two graduating biology and biochemistry majors will be recognized for their achievements in scholarship and research during the annual Undergraduate Research Conference and Awards Ceremony, hosted by the Department of Biology in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences, April 28 and 29 on the first floor of the Life Sciences Complex. Posters will be presented from 1-3 p.m. on both April 28 and 29, with the departmental awards ceremony immediately following the poster presentations on April 29 in room 105. Six of the student posters will also be included in SU Showcase ’11 on May 2.

The awards ceremony will include the presentation of the department’s highest honor,  the Donald G. Lundgren Memorial Award for Outstanding Scholarship and Research, to a graduating senior. Lundgren was the first chair of the Department of Biology. Nathaniel J. Miska, a biochemistry major, will receive this year’s award. During his undergraduate career, Miska has worked in the laboratory of Mathew Maye, assistant professor of chemistry, conducting research on bio-functionalized nanomaterials. Miska, who co-authored several peer-reviewed research papers with Maye, has also been a 2010 recipient of the national Astronaut Scholarship Foundation award, which is presented to the top science and engineering students in the country.

Thirteen graduating biology and biochemistry students will receive a Certificate for Academic Achievement for earning a GPA of 3.7 or above; 19 students will receive a Certificate for Research Achievement for significant achievement in research conducted with a faculty mentor; and nine students will receive a Certificate for Scholarship and Research for a graduating GPA of 3.7 or above and achievement in research with a faculty mentor. Additionally, 13 of the students receiving awards will graduate with a degree in biology or biochemistry with distinction. Students earning this honor have participated in research with a faculty mentor for at least two years and have written a thesis about their work.

In addition to Miska, the students being honored during the program are:

Certificate for Academic Achievement
Daniel D. Fernandez
Marissa F. Gobuty
Cassidy S. Henneman
Lua A. Jafari
Sundus S. Mian
Lauren C. Monoxelos
Paige N. Mullins
Aaron J. Roy
Colin P. Shea
Yanina Tovpeka, (graduating with distinction)
Jesse S. Turiel
Emily L. Williams
Sarah D. Zuckerman

Certificate for Research Achievement
Jennifer E. Benner
Brian R. Birnbaum
Tess A. Cherlin
Moira R. Concannon
Tony H. Gao
Joseph W. Gervasio
Christina I.Giovinazzo
Katelyn M. Heim (graduating with distinction)
Eugenia A. Im (graduating with distinction)
Joanna C. Kurman (graduating with distinction)
Alyssa C. Lau (graduating with distinction)
Kristina Martimucci (graduating with distinction)
Uchenna J. Mbawui
Lynaya R. Morris
Marisol A. O’Neill (graduating with distinction)
Jennifer Roscoe (graduating with distinction)
Young H. Son (graduating with distinction)
Carey A. Stuart
Victoriya Zlamanyuk

Award Certificate for Scholarship and Research Achievement
Elizabeth F. Barone
Erica J. Brenner
Kyle J. Fahey
Elizabeth A. Gengo
Guang Yu Lee (graduating with distinction)
Qi Wen Li (graduating with distinction)
Jamison D. Patak
Lyuba E. Polinkovsky (graduating with distinction)
Sarah K. Wendel (graduating with distinction)